Species guide · Alabama
Atlantic tarpon fishing in Alabama
Megalops atlanticus, an inshore species also called silver king, poon and sabalo. Listed for the Eastern Gulf region. Shoulder season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in North Mobile Bay at 68, one of 4 Alabama bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Eastern Gulf
Shoulder season, about 1 more week- Jan: Off season
- Feb: Off season
- Mar: Off season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Off season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Off season
Peak: May to Jul. In season (shoulder or peak): Apr to Sep.
Research notes, Eastern Gulf region
Boca Grande Pass and Charlotte Harbor, Tampa Bay and the Homosassa flats peak May through July. Fish spread to the Panhandle, Alabama and Mississippi in mid summer. Juveniles stay in southwest Florida canals and creeks year-round.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 4
Alabama bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's atlantic tarpon score this hour.
Best window today 5 PM-12 AM (69) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 8 AM (76) · 33 named spots
Best window today 5 PM-12 AM (70) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 8 AM (75) · 21 named spots
Best window today 5 PM-12 AM (68) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 8 AM (77) · 53 named spots
Best window today 5 PM-12 AM (65) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (73) · 20 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 70°F to 95°F, best between 75°F and 88°F.
- Water depth
- 2 to 60 ft of water.
- Structure
- Pass, channel, bridge, beach, inlet, mangrove and flat, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers outgoing tide and incoming tide, with moderate current.Pass and bridge fishing is best on strong outgoing tides, especially around new and full moons when crabs flush out of the bays. Beach and flats fish are sight cast on moving water with enough light to see them. Tide matters less for fish rolling along open beaches.
- Light
- Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
- Pressure
- Prefers steady pressure.
- Wind and sea limits
- 15 kt of wind and 3 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Tarpon roll along beaches, in passes and channels, and under bridges from late spring through fall, and in South Florida some fish stay through winter in warm canals and backcountry rivers. Live crabs, mullet or pinfish drifted through a pass on the outgoing tide, or a fly or soft plastic cast ahead of a rolling string of fish, are the main approaches. Use a long heavy leader, bow to the jumps, and keep big fish in the water for release.
- Methods
- sight casting, live bait drifting, fly fishing, anchoring in passes, bridge fishing at night, trolling
- Lures
- soft plastic swimbait, jig, trolled spoon, suspending plug, tarpon fly (toad, streamer)
- Bait
- live pass crab, live mullet, pinfish, threadfin herring, pilchard, cut mullet
Regulations
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division. Synced with ADCNR Marine Resources Sep 17, 2026.
No reviewed atlantic tarpon rule for Alabama is on file yet. Check with ADCNR Marine Resources before you keep one.